Medivac's from Raoul Island over the years have up until now been carried out by helicopter, namely AS350 Squirrels (ZK-IWI on 21Apr05 returning Raoul Island-Middlemore Hospital 22Apr05 with PA31 ZK-MJF as SAR cover and again on 17Oct05 with Learjet ZK-XVL providing support) which have staged via Le Esperance Rock where a small supply of Jet A1 fuel was stored, and most recently by Mil 8 ER-MHH on 17Mar06 following a volcanic eruption, however the association of Taupo's skydive operation and rescue services provider John Funnell has seen the upgrade to fixed wing capability.
The airstrip at Raoul was developed over 15 years ago to facilitate Nelson based Aerial Surveys to conduct photographic work using Cessna 206 ZK-EOP, however the paddock that was developed into an airstrip was used as an emergency landing spot for a Cessna U206 DQ-FEX (ex ZK-FHE) on 08Dec90 when the aircraft was enroute from Auckland to Tonga. It departed Raoul Island for Nadi on 13Dec90. The same paddock was used again during Oct91 when PA24 ZK-DAA made a dawn arrival to uplift a DOC worker. ZK-EOP arrived at Raoul Island from Dairy Flat and Great Barrier Island on 25Feb92 and flew a photographic operations on 28Feb92 and 02Mar92 before returning to Dairy Flat on 03Mar92.
Touching down on Ardmore's runway 03, Mike Condon photo
